Buffalo Police Identify Suspect in May Homicide on Hertel Avenue

Nearly a month after a fatal shooting led to the forced closure of Del Denby Tavern on Hertel Avenue, Buffalo Police have named a suspect.

On Monday, the Buffalo Police Department said they have issued an indictment warrant for William Quinones, 27, in connection with the May 7 shooting that killed Madjid Elbert, 46.

Ronald Cercone, an attorney on behalf of the tavern’s owners, said the bar reopened on May 22. “I think they found we really were not at fault for this incident,” he told the Buffalo News.

He also confirmed that there was a security guard on duty at the time of the shooting, in the early hours of May 7, when Elbert was killed.

Del Denby Tavern does have to operate under some addition restrictions and considerations, including having two security guards at the bar on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and must close by 2 a.m., instead of the 4 a.m. permitted throughout the city, four nights each week. The rear patio must close by 11 p.m. or midnight, with music turned off outside at 8 p.m. on weekends.

Additionally, representatives of the bar will be required to meet with police monthly and any emergency calls will be addressed by either the district chief or community police officers.

In a departure from what was previously discussed, Buffalo Police now say the suspect and victim did not interact with each other before the shooting, with video footage showing Elbert arriving around 9:30 p.m. to watch a basketball game and the suspect not arriving until 12:30 a.m., sitting on the opposite end of the bar. It was a short time later that Elbert went outside, spoke with the shooter for a brief interval before he appears to try and punch the other man, who stepped back and pulled out a gun before shooting Elbert.

Anyone with information about Quinones is asked to call the Buffalo Police Department confidential tipline at 716-847-2255. The department is not releasing a photo at this time.